Processing machine



June 20, 1939. L R. THOMAS PROCESSING MACHINE' 3, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec.

N .mm

QA mw INVENTOR.

5 www @M D June 20, 1939. L R. THOMAS 2,163,504

PROCESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. s, 1936 4 sheets-sheet 2 www I ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-Shet IS o O M A o L. R. THOMAS PROCESSING MACHINE Filed Deo.

June 20, 1939.

INVENTOR.

Myra P Www/ns 55m@ Maf/Fwd ATTORNEYS June 20, 1939. v L R1 THOMAS 2,163,504

PROCESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1N VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 20, 1939 VUNITED STATES lParam OFFICE PROCESSING MACHINE Lloyd R.y Thomas, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor to The lYoungstown Foundry& Machine Company, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 3, 1936, Serial No. 114,015

4 Claims. (ol. 15s- 54) The present invention relates to the processrolls and prior toits passage through the con-` ing of strip steel to remove surface scale theretinuous pickling line. from thus facilitating the production of a finely Referring to the drawings, the frame of the nished surface in the subsequent treatment of machine is designated in general by the refer- 5 the material, etc., and/or to remove or relieve ence character A and comprises spaced upright 5 strain therein. Y side members IU connected at intervals by trans- An object of the invention is the provision of verse members I I secured thereto in any con,- a novel and improved machine for processing venient manner. The machine comprises a plustrip steel comprising means for flexing the strip rality of sets of rolls supported in the frame A,

over rolls of relatively small diameter rst in the first of whichfis apair of entering pinch 10 one direction and then in the other, and means rolls I2 and I3. These rolls are initially emfor readily 4adjusting or setting the angles ployed to feed the strip, designated by the refthrough which the strip is bent. erence-character S, past the flexing rolls and Another object of the invention is the prointo the exit pinch rolls, after which they are vision of a novel and improved machine for reoperated to exert a drag onthe Strip and thus l5 moving strain from strip steel. bend the same about the lflexing rolls, all of vFurther objects andl advantages of thepreswhich will be hereinafter more specifically reent invention will be apparent to those skilled ferred to. Opposite ends of the lower roll I2 of in the art tc which it relates from the following the entering pinch rolls are rotatably supported description of the preferred embodiment thereof` in bearing chocks I5 removably positioned or 20 described with reference to the accompanying slidable in slots I6 in the side members I0. l The drawings forming a part of this specification in upper roll I 3 is similarly supported in bearing which similaireference characters designate corchocks I1 also slidably positioned inthe slots responding parts throughout the several views, I6 but above the bearing chocks I5. The slots and in which Y I6 open into the top of the side frame members 25 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a processing ma- I0, thus permittingY thepinch rolls to be readily chine embodying the present invention and a removed for the purpose of replacement, etc. coil box for holding avcoil of strip steel; The upper roll I3is continuously urged toward Fig. 2 is a plan` view, with portions in secthe lower roll I2 by springs I8 interposed tion, of the processing machine shown in Fig. 1; between the Upper bearing ChOCkS I1 and the 30 Fig, 3 is a, Section on the une' 3 '3 'Qf'Fig 2; lower ends of adjusting nuts I9 threaded in suitand able apertures in brackets 20 bolted to the side Fig, 4` is an end elevation cf the processing members I0 and projecting 0r extending across machine locking from the right cf either Fig. 1 the upper Open ends 0f the slots 6- The enteror Fig 2' f ing pinch rolls I2 and I3v are operativelycon- 35 According to present steel mill practice, procnefed, thTOllgh @gear redllCtOn 2|, t0 an 1C- essing machines of the character referred to are TC 3101501 22 WhlCh Can be Operated either t0 usually located at the entry end of continuous dIVe the T0115 01 as 9' drag generator 01' 2 back pickiing lines and in their nature are process tension s0 thaty they can be Operated, as preuncoilers. While processing machinesarefusu-` Viously' stated t0 lther 'advance the Strip 01' 40 vally employed in the aforesaid manner, the pres- Create tenslon heln' ent machine is not limited to usev with a con- Fr0m-the entenng pmch Tous the'strlp passes tinuous pickling line, but maybe otherwise emundfmeath a exmg rou-23 .and over a Second loyed for example it can! be used alone' to flexing roll 2 4 spaced longitudinally of the travel p t f .1 .f t t 1 ;t of the sheet from the` first exing roll 23. The 45 remove s ram 110m a' C101 i? s nl s se or 1 flexing rolls 23 and 24 are of small diameter might be usad Wlth a co d s np m1 e.c' Gen' and are provided with back-up rolls 25 and 26, erauy Speakfng me preferrgd embodlmeflt of respectively, of larger diameter. The exing rolls the present .invention comprises a plurality of 23 and 24 and the back up Tous 25 and 25 are 5 rolls of vrelatively small diameter over which the au rotataby Supported by ampfricton bearings 50 steel strip is drawn to ex it firstV in one direction and then in vthe other direction so asto crack and remove the scale therefrom, Provision is also made for leveling or straightening the strip after it has passed over the flexing in a frame or cradle B consisting of cylindrical end members 21 connected by cross members 28 k and 29 which also serve as guides for the entering end of the strip as it is fed past the flexing rolls 23 and 24 and on to theexit pinch rolls.

The cradle B is rotatably supported by journals 30 formed integral with the center of the end members 21, in bearing chocks 3| removably positioned in slots in the side members I0. Said slots open into the top of the lside members I0, as do the slots |6, and the members 3| are secured therein by brackets 33 extending across the slots and bolted to the side members. The cradle B is adapted to be rotatedabout a horizontal axis by pinions 35 fixed to a horizontal shaft 36 journaled in the members 3|, which pinions are continuously in mesh with gear sectors 31 formed on the under part of the annular end members 21of the cradle. The shaft 36 is adapted to be rotated in either direction by an electric motor 38 through the medium of a wor gear reduction 39.

From the flexing roll 24 the strip S passes through exit pinch rolls, the lower rolls 42 and 43 of which are carried in bearing chocks 46 positioned in the lower end of a slot 41 similar to the slots in the side members I0 heretofore referred to. The upper rolls 44 and 45 of the exit pinch rolls are rotatably connected to upper bearing chocks 50 slidably supported in the slots 41 above the lower bearing chocks 46. The upper pinch rolls 44 and 45 are continuously urged toward the lower pinch rolls 42 and 43 respectively by springs 5| interposed between the upper bearing chocks and the lower ends of screwdowns 52. Both screw-downs `52 are adapted to be simultaneously operated to either increase or decrease the pressure between the upper and lower exit pinch rolls by a handwheel 55 connected to the front end of a shaft 56 extending across the machine and connected to the screwdown proper through the medium of worm and worm wheel in amanner well known in the art. The exit pinch rolls are adapted to be driven from an electric motor 60, which also drives the straightening or leveling rolls hereinafter referred to, through a power transmission 6| of conventional construction.

From the exit pinch rolls the sheet passes through the straightening or leveling rolls 6| to 65 inclusive. The bottom three rolls 6|, 62, and 63 of the straightening or leveling rolls are rotatably supported in stationary bearing chocks 61 slidably or removably positioned in the bottom of slots 68 formed in the side frame members I6, and the upper two straightening or leveling rolls 64 and 65 are rotatably connected toA upper bearing chocks 69 slidably supported in the slot 68 above the lower bearing chocks 61. The two sets of' straightening or leveling rolls are held in spaced relation with reference to each other by spring 18 interposed between the upper and lower bearing chocks at opposite ends thereof. To permit adjustment of the straightening rolls, opposite ends of the bearing chocks 61 are provided with means for raising or lowering the same. In the preferred embodiment shown, this means is a screw-down comprising handwheels 12 and 13 connected to shafts 14 and 15 respectively, whichshafts extend across the machine adjacent opposite ends of the bearing chocks and which are operatively connected through the medium of worms and worm wheels to the screwdowns proper. As previously stated, the leveling or straightening rollsl are adapted to be driven from the power transmission 6| in a conventional manner. As shown suitable cross members 11, 18 and 19 are interposed between the various sets of rolls to assist in guiding the strip through the machine.

In operation, the coil of material to be processed is placed in a coil box designated generally by the reference character C. The coil box C comprises a plurality of rollers supported in plates 8| secured in the box-like frame 84 having rods `extending across. the inside upon which movable plates 86 are slidably supported. The plates 86 are also guided in their movement transversely of the box by shafts 81 which project through bosses in the sides of the frame 84. The left-hand plate 86 as viewed in Fig. 4 isadapted to be moved along the rods 85 by a handwheel 88, and the right-hand plate is adapted to be moved'by a fluid pressure motor 90 the piston rod 9| of which is fixed to the plate. The plates 86 are adjustable for the purpose of accommodating coils of strip material of different widths and for centering the strip in the machine.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

After the coil to be processed has been placed on the rollers 80 in the coil box C, the outer end thereof is fed into the entering pinch rolls l2 -and I3 which are now being driven by the motor 22. At the beginning of the operation, the cradle B is positioned with the flexing rolls 23 and 24 in the position shown in Fig. 1, and as the end of the strip is advanced by the entering pinch rolls, it passes underneath the first flexing roll 23 and. over or above the second flexing roll 24, being guided in its travel through the cradle B by the cross-members 28 and 29. After the strip has entered the exit pinch rolls, the motor 22 is caused to operate as a generator and exert a drag on the strip. At or about the same time the motor 38 is energized to rotate the cradle B in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, moving the flexing rolls 23 and 24 from the position shown in Fig. l to one similar to that shown in Fig. 3 and causing the strip to be flexed first in onedirection and then in the opposite direction an amount depending upon the angle through which the cradle B has been rotated. It will be readily apparent that the angles through which the strip is flexed can be set or adjusted depending upon conditions, etc., by merely causing the motor 38 to operate in one direction or the other. The amount of tension applied to the strip can be readily controlled by means of the motor 22.

From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated have been accomplished and that a new and improved machine for processing strip steel or the like to relieve strain and/or flex off the yscale has been provided. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the construction shown is merely illustrative of the invention and I do not wish to be limited thereto.

It ls my invention to cover hereby all adaptions, modifications, and uses thereof, and I particularly point out and claim. as my invention the following:

l. A processing machine for strip steel comprising a frame, a member rotatably supported by said frame, a plurality of flexing rolls of relatively small diameter carried by said member, back-up rolls carried by said member and engaging said flexing rolls, said flexing rolls being adapted to engage opposite sides of a strip passing through the machine and flex the same first in one direction and then in the other, reversible power means for moving said member about its axis of rotation whereby the angle through which the strip is flexed may be varied, means for pulling the strip over said flexing rolls, and means for exerting a drag on the strip.

2. A processing machine for strip steel coinprising a frame, a member rotatably supported by said frame, relatively small diameter carried by said member, back-up rolls carried by said member and engaging said flexing rolls, said flexing rolls being adapted to engage opposite sides of a strip pass ing thereby and fiex the same first in one direction and then in the other, guide means carried by said member for guiding the entering end of the strip past said flexing rolls, reversible power means for oscillating said member about its axis of rotation whereby the angle through which the strip is flexed may be varied, means for pulling the strip over said flexing rolls, and means for exerting a drag on the strip.

3. A processing machine for strip steel comprising a frame, a member rotatably supported by said frame, a plurality of iiexing rolls of relatively small diameter carried by said member, back-up rolls engaging said flexing rolls, means a plurality of flexing rolls of,

for guiding the strip to the flexing rolls, said iiexing rolls being adapted to engage opposite sides of the strip passing through the machine spaced from the first mentioned pair of rolls.-

a member rotatably supported intermediate said pairs of rolls, a plurality of exing rolls of relatively small diameter carried by said member, back-up rolls engaging4 said flexing rolls, means for moving said member about its axis of rotation, said first mentioned pair of rolls and said second mentioned pair of rolls being adapted to guide the strip to and from the flexing rolls and the flexing rolls being adapted to engage opposite sides ofthe strip and flex the same first in one direction and then in the other, means for pulling the strip over said flexing rolls, and means for exerting a drag on the strip.

LLOYD R. THOMAS. 

